Key figures

Housing at the heart of energy and climate challenges in Tajikistan

Context

In Tajikistan, the residential sector accounts for more than 20% of greenhouse gas emissions. Many homes remain poorly insulated and rely heavily on wood and coal for heating. For households, this means high energy costs and insufficient thermal comfort; for the environment, it increases emissions, air pollution and pressure on forest resources.

At the same time, housing needs are rising rapidly. Project capitalization work estimates that at least 500,000 new homes will be needed by 2040, while applications for residential land have increased by around 20% in five years. This trend creates a major opportunity: making energy efficiency a standard for individual housing rather than a correction added afterwards. These issues are also central to Geres’ FRESH project, which focuses on adapting housing to climate change and improving energy efficiency.

Reducing household energy costs, improving comfort and cutting the carbon footprint

Challenges

The main challenge of the LECH project is to combine energy efficiency, affordability and improved living conditions, including for lower-income households. The aim is to sustainably reduce fuel needs and energy expenditure while improving thermal comfort throughout the year: warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Beyond the economic challenge, LECH also addresses health and environmental issues: reducing the use of wood and coal helps improve indoor air quality, limit risks linked to cold and pollution, and reduce the carbon footprint of individual housing.

Simple, accessible bioclimatic architecture adapted to the local context

Solution & project objectives

LECH houses are based on proven technical principles validated with SRICA:

• south-facing orientation to maximize solar gains in winter;
• enhanced insulation of walls, floors and roofs;
• double-glazed windows;
• an enclosed veranda and solar shading to limit overheating in summer;
• use of locally available materials and know-how whenever possible.

The approach keeps the additional upfront cost limited, at between 1.2% and 4.7% of construction costs depending on the performance level selected.

Three performance levels adapted to household budgets

• Minimum efficiency — +1.2% upfront cost, paid back in around 4 years, for about 20% fuel savings per year.
• Intermediate efficiency — +1.8% upfront cost, paid back in around 4 years, for about 30% fuel savings per year.
• Maximum efficiency — +4.7% upfront cost, paid back in around 5 years, for about 60% fuel savings per year.

Over its lifetime, a LECH house can also avoid the equivalent of 6 to 18 years of an individual’s carbon footprint.

End-to-end support, from project design to performance

LECH’s strength lies as much in its technical solutions as in the support model developed with local partners. Households can receive advice from the early stages of their project, access adapted plans, be directed towards suitable materials and trained professionals, access green financing, and benefit from technical monitoring during construction.

The support pathway includes:

• raising household awareness of the benefits of energy efficiency;
• adapting plans to household needs and site characteristics;
• facilitating access to green loans through partner microfinance institutions;
• supporting construction and checking build quality;
• carrying out a final energy audit to verify the home’s performance.

More than 1,540 houses built and a model ready to be replicated

More than 1,540 energy-efficient houses have been built through this approach. Lessons learned show that energy efficiency can significantly reduce fuel consumption while improving household comfort. The project has also helped consolidate local skills and develop financing mechanisms adapted to the construction of high-performance homes.

After more than a decade of experimentation and continuous improvement, the priority is now to facilitate replication of the model: strengthen financing mechanisms for the most vulnerable households, continue training professionals, and better integrate women into value chains and financial mechanisms linked to sustainable housing.

Who is the project for?

Beneficiaries

• Tajik households, particularly lower-income and vulnerable households, who gain access to more comfortable homes while reducing their energy expenditure.
• Women and vulnerable families, for whom improved energy efficiency helps reduce the burden associated with heating and improve living conditions.
• Local builders and construction professionals, who strengthen their skills in energy-efficient construction.
• Microfinance institutions and public stakeholders, which gain access to a documented model for developing affordable, high-performance housing solutions.

projet VIDEO

Technical partners

• Geres: Ensures stakeholder engagement, provides initial training for engineers and financial advisors, and coordinates the service delivery model with partners.

• Loihakash: A public architecture and construction design firm, it is responsible for designing plans and providing technical oversight of construction sites.

• SRICA (Institute for Scientific and Architectural Research): Ensures the quality of technical standards, validates bioclimatic principles, and provides training and certification for tradespeople.

• Local microfinance institutions: Key partners that offer households low-interest green loans to finance the construction work.

Financial supporters

The project has received support from the French Development Agency (AFD), notably through the EcoDev and FRESH programmes, as well as from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through the regional Green Homes in Central Asia programme.